When India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir embraced Virat Kohli following Australia’s victory in the fifth and final Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday, January 5, cricket fans went into a frenzy. Pat Cummins and his team won the five-match series 3-1, reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In Australia, Ravichandran Ashwin declared his retirement from international cricket during India’s tour. Following his decision to leave the playing XI for the fifth Test because of his poor form, Rohit Sharma’s future in the red-ball format has also been the subject of conjecture. Additionally, Kohli struggled throughout the series, repeatedly falling short with the bat against deliveries that were outside of his off-stump. At an average of 23.75, Kohli scored 190 runs from nine innings to end the series. In the first Test match in Perth, he only managed one hundred runs in the second innings.
Gautam Gambhir was spotted holding Kohli as they waited for the post-match presentation to begin after India lost.
The fifth Test by six wickets and was eliminated from the World Test Championship (WTC) final race. Given that rumours about Kohli’s future have already begun to circulate, the gesture even alarmed some supporters.
Gautam Gambhir hugs Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/wMcqCgm3q1
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 5, 2025
10 years later, Australia wins the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, overnight batsmen, at the crease, India began Day 3 at 141/6. In the first session, the tourists were dismissed for 157 thanks to outstanding bowling performances by Pat Cummins and Scott Boland.
Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja contributed 39 runs in just 3.5 overs during the World Test Champions’ successful chase of a 162-run mark, which was made possible by India’s careless bowling with the new ball. By dismissing Steve Smith, Konstas, and Marnus Labuschagne prior to the lunch break, Prasidh Krishna gave India hope for a coming back.
Usman Khawaja was defeated by Mohammed Siraj in the second session, but Australia prevailed with six wickets remaining thanks to Travis Head and Beau Webster.